Wednesday (1/18) Don’t miss the next performance of The Vocal Workshop. The singers will be performing some great music, accompanied by Chris Grasso on piano, Zack Pride on bass, and Lenny Robinson on drums. The Vocal Workshop is an eight-week program designed to guide aspiring vocalists in their journey towards becoming jazz singers. The Workshop offers high-quality instruction in the art of jazz singing, in a setting with other vocalists who share the same goals. At 7pm, the featured vocalists will be Joanne Wertz, Marsha Meekins, Molly Pruett, Linda Stone, Art Medici, and Kelly Jerosch. At 9pm, we’ll hear Crista Cueto, Karuna Shinsho, Nomonde Nolutshungu, Jack Feder, Mona Verrico, and Ghada Rihani. Your $10 admission fee is good for either or both sets.

Friday (1/20) The music of The VI-Kings is the soundtrack of your life: Beatles Stones, Kinks, Credence, Dylan, Byrds, Yardbirds, and on and on. This music endures, and is as fresh and as relevant today as it was the day it was released. In these turbulent times, they have made The Youngbloods’ plea, “C’mon people now, smile on your brother…” the theme for this show. The VI-Kings are Joe Dolan (Beatnik Flies), Stock Wilson (The Loggers), Matthew Maury (Friends of the Family, Center Stage), Bill Craig, and the legendary Bob Berberich. Bob Berberich was the original drummer in The Hangmen, who had a #1 hit with “What a Girl Can’t Do” in 1966. He then went on to be a founding member of Grin with Nils Lofgren. Singer-songwriter Annie Sidley will share the stage. The show starts at 8pm.

Sunday (1/22) The legendary Sam Cookewas about music, religion, romance, and history. January 22nd would have been his 86th birthday! Join us as Carla Cooke, the youngest daughter of Sam Cooke, pays tribute. Carla has performed in concert with the Legendary Four Tops, Freda Payne, Sheila Raye Charles, Claudette King, Jeff Pitchell, Rhonda Ross, and Tasha Taylor. She has appeared at festivals and venues throughout the United States. Her personal style is diverse in gospel, Christian, R&B, soul, pop, as well as today’s contemporary sound, and her stage presence commands the environment wherever she performs. Recently Carla signed with Soul South Entertainment and we are pleased that she has made Bethesda Blues a stop on her current East Coast tour. The concert begins at 7:30pm

We’re all looking forward to our big 4th Anniversary event featuring the amazing Dionne Warwick on Wednesday, March 1st! Other great upcoming shows include Gino Vannelli, guiltypleasures, The Chuck Brown Band, Joey Vega, Rickie Lee Jones & Madeleine Peyroux, and Denny Laine will be here at BBJ celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Wings Over America tour! Those are just a few of the shows we’ve got planned, so make sure you check out the latest on our Music Calendar. We look forward to seeing you soon!